06 Aug 2017

Most MPs who contributed to the debate on the bill presented by Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse calling for the scraping off of the provision to withhold a portion of the salaries of police officers while on interdiction have indicated that the move would be highly beneficial.

One of those who contributed to the debate on Thursday (August 3) was Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP Mr Shawn Ntlhaile, who described the bill as a sign of progressive thinking.

Mr Ntlhaile said members of the Botswana Police Service were being made to suffer by having part of their salaries withheld while on interdiction; saying such an arrangement amounted to double punishment as interdiction was on its own a form of punishment.

Criticising government for the current arrangement, MP Ntlhaile said the executive should learn to heed the voice of the people if it wanted the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to be taken seriously.

He said what government was doing to police officers was not in sync with the ideals of democracy.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa said it was disappointing that despite Botswana being endowed with a lot of wealth, the country continued to uphold laws that impoverish its people.

He said it did not add up to have in place initiatives aimed at eradicating poverty while on the one hand government continued pushing some of its people into the social ill by way of withholding part of their salaries.

Mr Nkaigwa noted that withholding a portion of the salary of an employee on interdiction was a form of cruelty that should be done away with.

Major General Pius Mokgware, who is MP for Gabane-Mmankgodi also supported the bill, saying withholding part of the salaries of police officers on interdiction pushed them into committing other offences such as that of living beyond one’s means.

On the assurance by the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security that the establishment of a permanent court martial to would address the issue of delays on the hearing of cases, the MP said that would not help much as the court would only be able to expedite the hearing of internal cases and not those before civil courts of law, which work according to their own schedule.

MP Polson Majaga of Nata-Gweta also indicated that it was necessary to come up with a piece of legislation that would ensure the speedy resolution of cases of police officers paced under interdiction.

He said it was not proper for cases of officers suspected of having committed some offences to grad on for years.

MP for Gaborone Central Dr Phenyo Butale implored government to have some compassion towards members of the police service.

He said it was disappointing to withhold part of the salaries of officers suspected of crimes while it was common knowledge that police officers were already underpaid.

He implored his colleagues to pass the bill, noting that it was unfortunate that Parliament had rejected a similar bill that sought to do away with the same provision with regards to members of the Botswana Defence Force.

At the end of the debate, the bill was rejected, with the majority of MPs voting against it. ENDS